Family, friends and local officials turned out Tuesday to the Butler County Government Services Center to honor the memory of murder and vehicle crash victims, fallen police and firefighters and war heroes.

They gathered for a 12th annual candlelight vigil organized by Victims United, an emotional support group whose objective is to give information gained from members’ experiences as crime victims.

Madge Burton, the group’s president, individually thanked and praised each of the officials who participated in the ceremony, including Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones, Butler County Prosecutor Mike Gmoser, retired sheriff’s office detectives Rick Sizemore and Charlie Profitt, Butler County Common Pleas Judge Mike Sage and Hamilton Fire Chief Steve Dawson.

Burton, whose two daughters and granddaughter were murdered 26 years ago, also offered consoling words to those who lost loved ones.

“When you leave here this evening I hope that you know that you are not alone and I hope that God gives you full blessings for the rest of your lives,” Burton said.

Sizemore said lighting candles helps keep alive the memory of those Butler County men, women and children who lost their lives “much too soon.”

“Let the light of the candle serve as a reminder that the spirit is forever,” Sizemore said. “It never dies. Through the years, the spirit of the loved ones who we have lost and their memory will live on forever.”

Brandi Brandenburg said she participated in the ceremony to honor the memory of best friend Lindsey Tara Lakes, 21, of New Miami, who was murdered in 2006.

“It just brings me closer to her and makes me feel like she’s with me and that she will never be forgotten,” said Brandenburg, who attended the vigil with Lakes’ mother, grandmother and other relatives. “I will not ever allow her to be forgotten.”

Theresa Turner Miracle of Oxford lit a candle to honor accident victims, including her 19-year-old niece, Christy Turner, who died in 1993.

Miracle, who attended with mother Bertha Turner and family friend Marlene Carmack, said the ceremony helps greatly each year.

“When people get together, we know what each other is feeling,” Miracle said. “Nobody knows exactly because everybody acts different but we know a little bit of how they are feeling and it is very comforting.”

Don Carpenter, who lost his 18-month-old grandson to murder, offered a similar sentiment before reading a list of murder victim names for more than seven minutes.

“Seeing all of you people out here tonight reminds me that we’re all in this together,” he said.

Butler County Prosecutor Mike Gmoser said the focus of the criminal justice system has shifted drastically from yesteryear and is no longer solely on criminals and their needs for rehabilitation.

“Victims now know that they are not alone,” Gmoser said. “Police agencies are trained on how to work with victims, prosecutors now have victim’s advocates, judges listen to victims … and government makes funds available for these needed victims services unlike it ever was before.”